Paper money counter



Jan. 27,' 1942. T. E, HAYES PAPER MONEY COUNTER Filed June 27, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 27, 1942. T E, HAYES 2,271,394

PAPER MONEY COUNTER Filed June 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan.27, 1942 Thomas', v

This invention relates to,machines"Mforqas-y sorting and counting'papermoney.-.= Y In bankingv establishmentadt is desirable that #to AllanLard, Washingto'mD.

the paper money handled' beiassorted'andarrranged in packages or bundlescachot a prede' .termined number of bills. Gferierally,Ennehun,-y

dred billsare stacked together and bound`r by a `strap of paper, thestrap-carrying: a .notatan of y'thesum of money in the stack, andk an.'identification of the person responsibleforthe assembling andcounting ofthe stack. Such a stack is1com1. `monly designated a strap "i E.v Hates,Vtasliingftoxi,` D. C., assignerwl ,'Q il" Application June 1939,'sal'NojzsiAs s'jdlaiihs. (01..,235 9,2)f v 4 mess ofthe bi1-11.

lThe raising.'v of the upper: roll `act-naties fa' mima-switch ,whichcloses a Y'circuit simultaneously through thesolenoid controlling-fthefirdiv'dual counter associated with thac,..par-n tisular: bin',vfand i the solenoid*controlling-lathe kmaster counter. Energization'of? thel solenids :draws thearmatures 'offthe'counters into theirvcpotentialwposition to. registeracontlas soon VPaper money received bybanks in .packages vor straps -must be assorted and'r als'oraccurately fcounted, 'to check the correctnessof the `amount noted on the strap. cin; 3.1.

Paper money received I4in 'loose lerLunfsttapped conditionl must also beaccurately assotedl'and counted into stack'spand 'eachfsta'ck rstrappedwith a notation' on the strap, of the' amount 1in' 'the strap, vand ofvthe lperson responsible for the countingf -By such'counting of eitherunstrappedy bills or strapped billsfor both; theftotalamou'nt "or sumofA paper' money handled, ris'- ascertained Aandl verified, and errorsin-'ItheE tations=-on the straps dei-initelyjaf'sseciated'l 'responsiblefor-tliersarnef.v The asserting of -paper money'int i V'ackages "orvstraps usually' puts inv 'each Strap-only -billls of the samedenomination." Y l I f The performance entirely by hand'ffsuch work asthe assortngand counting of paper vr'r'ione'y requires, involvesassorting and unting asv separate operations, involves much time,fand iscorrespondingly expensive; Tore'duce the expense, and to avoidr theerrors founditobe inevitable in the hand counting and asserting of papermoney, it has been proposedftopro'vide machines for doing that work,such a"mach'ine lbeing described the-patent to Ernest P; Schneider, No,2,004,835, granted June-'11, 1935. In 'such a paper -moneyco'untingandassorting machine 4as that to whichthe said patent frelates, andwhich represents thefrfiostadvanced with the perse'ns type of #machineup 'tof the 'present-,1 time; there is a row ofvreceivingpbns,=one"f-forfeach denomination of bill, a plurality of solenoidperatedcounters, one for each' bn,"and a master `counter fer all the'bins, alsosolenoid operated.

There is Va lpair of normally vcontacting rolls at the front of eachbin, 'one' roll of eachpair ybeing driven, to which rolls theAbillsiiare =`presented manually, and between which they vare fed to thebins, the @upper v'rollbeing elevated Lby lthe 'as they are Vreleased.""It `,follows fro'mthe abovef'des'cription that `fthe solenoidsremainengagedgduring the'entire f being registeredupdn-Ithe openingxcfv .thecir- ;cuit ofith'e vsolenoids-bimmediately after` complevtion of.thelpassagexof the bill.'v4 Theregistratio'n "of r,ther count Adoes@not #follow instanta'neoush7 vafter the 'billfhas passed,Y for` `thereis an inherent electrical lag attendingf-ldeeenergization ofthesolenoicls,` and a mechanical'lag inherent in theel'ements Ifof ,thecounters themselves, so 'that' therefis an :appreciabletiineintervalbetvsreenitldeA instant" the r'oflls come together-after `thep'assagelof thebill-,aan'd the operation of the counter, whichatwthe's'peedat which ythe machine' fisnoima'lllxr run, may equal adistance inch inthe pathaofLtravelofftheibill.y

f "Under the'conditions vaboveg-related, the speed of s'ortingandfeeding the bills to the machine is greatly'. slowed down, for: theperson who is' V4feeding the lbiflls-to =the r'olls must be sure 'thatthe bills arefnot presented closer'to one'another -than flvei-eighthsof.A an inch, else :the counter lsolen'oidsrwill fbe l-re'energizedbefore vthe lmechanical' and electrical lag]` has 'beenovereoma so that.the armatures -will kie-drawnl down again 4t0 their? potential`position.before the'punt of `the previous bill has been registered;` e

' The object of the present-finvfntion -is to' en'- ha'nce j they speedcapacity ,olfl the niac'liiiie"v by c'zahusingv thed'e-energizihg of:`the' counterV Y'sole- "rioids during the passage 'of the bill betweenthe rolls vsothat the lag; the operation 'of thecounter, -and^therest-oral of the counte'rarmature "to normalrepese position', Yall occurwhile the'b'ill -ispassing'"between the rolls and. notf'after its-.passage of a bill'a 'distance equal to the thick-s ticalembodneni-,zt-,iiref pfds, -1

appear as Figure 3 is a side elevation of the master counter showingportions of the solenoids for operating the same; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of theelectrical lay-out andinstrumentalities essential to the invention.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the numeral I representsin general the counting machine which has the general rectangular formof a cabinet and is divided from front to back by suitable partitionsinto a plurality of collecting bins, one of which is shown at 2. Thesebins are of suitable cross-sectional area to permit the free fall of thebills, and to cause them to stack in a substantially even manner, asindicated by the stack of bills 3 shown in the bottom of the bin. In theactual machine there are a plurality of bins, arranged side by side, butinasmuch as the invention is fully illustrated by reference to a singlebin, only one is shown. A solenoid operated counter 4 is associated witheach bin, and a master counter 5, also solenoid operated, counts incommon, for all of the bins. bin is a pair of rolls, the lowerroll 6 ofeach pair being driven by means such as the common shaft 'I, whichextends along the front of the machine. The upper roll 8 of each pairnormally rests upon the central part of the lower roll 6 and is mountedin a stirrup 9, which has a limited up and down movement and is providedwith a stud I0 which moves against the plunger II of a micro-switch I2.Figure 2 indicates in broken lines and somewhat diagrammatically, theintern-al construction of the micro-switch showing that the plunger IIpresses against one of two normally open contacts, bringing themtogether. The contacts, when open, are only a very small fraction of aninch apart. A bill is presented endwise to the l" rolls, the narrowcentral portion of the roll 6 causing the bill to assume a concave formso that it will pass between the rolls as a rigid body. The rolls willbe separated from one another during the passage of the bill by anamount equal Qi to the thickness of the bill, which will cause the studIU to push the plunger I I against the switch, closing the contacts.

Figure 4 shows that the micro-switch I2 is in a series circuit with thesolenoids I3 and I4 of both the individual and master counters and withthe line current so that when the micro-switch I2 yis closed thesolenoids I3 and I4 are simultaneously energized and the respectivecounter armatures I5 and I6 are moved to a position bridging the polesof the solenoids, thus moving the counter arm I'I to a potentialposition with respect to the counter operating mechanism so that whensaid counter arms are released the counters will be operated. It isobvious that when a bill is In front of each the closed switch I2 andthrough both the solenoids I3 and I4 and to ground so long as the switchI2 remains closed, that is to say, during the entire period of passageof a bill between the rolls. All this time the arms I'I of the counterswould be held in potential position and not until the bill hadcompletely passed between the rolls and the latter had come into contactwith one another would the de-energization of the solenoids of thecounters take Place through opening of the micro-switch I2. After theopening of said switch, there is an appreciable time interval before thesolenoids I3 and I4 can become de-energized yand. before the armaturesI5 and I6 can move the actuating arms I'I of the counters sufficientlyto have operated the counters. If another bill is presented to the rollsE and 8 so `quickly after the preceding bill as to separate the rollsand close the switch I2 before the solenoids I3 and I4 have had time tocompletely de-ener- -gize and before the mechanical lag in the countermechanism has. been overcome, the microswitch will again be closed andthe solenoids I3 `re-energizedV before the counter mechanism has 4hadtheopportunity to register the count of the -preceding bill.

This makes it necessary thatythe onev who is feeding bills into themachine shall wait a suiilcient time after the complete passage of thepreceding bill to assure thatthe parts have -returned to their normalrepose position readyto repeat their countingfunction. With the driveshaft 1 feeding the bills through at the normal Yrate of speed, it isfound that the one who feeds jbills to the machine must not present thebills vcloser than within about live-eighths of an inch of one another.This decidedly slows down the 'operation of the machine.

By the present invention, the circuit made by the closing of themicro-switch I2 is immediately broken while the billis still runningthrough between the rolls 6 and 8, so that the period ofv lag lbothelectrical and mechanical in the counter mechanism, and thecountregistering movement of the arm I'I are both completed While thebill is still running between the rollsfso that when the bill nallycompletes its passage between the rolls, .the solenoids I3 and I4 willbein readiness to be again rfa-energized, andthe arms II will be in aposition of repose in readiness to b e drawn to its potential positionthrough energization of the l solenoids.

The Ameans which" I havefprovided for accomplishing thisy functioncomprises a vpair of Vauxiliary contacts I8 and AISI mounted on themaster counter, thercontact I8 being stationary and the contact I9beingrmovable. These contacts, when closed, establish'a circuitl througha relay 2D. Said relay has a Contact Zl which nor- Awithdraws thecontact 2| from the micro-switch circuit, opening that circuit,yde-energizing the solenoids VI3 and I4, causing `the arms I I toactuate `the countingi mechanism to" register a .count on both theindividual. and' the master Y'2,21'7'1J-.9"l: counter, thecountregistering movement'of the yarm I1 of the master counter breaking the'cony tacts lvand I9. M It is observedrthat when the micro-switch I2vinitially closes, an alternative circuit is provided which isestablished from the line through thel not enough to actively energizethesolenoid I3 which actuates the counter.

It will not do, however, for the 'relay v28 to become de-energizedimmediately after its energization by the Aopening of the contacts'|8`and 19,'for the armature of the relay would drop,

causing the contact 2l to close the gap inthe micro-switch circuit,andthe latter being still closedA through the passage of the bill, thesolenoids I3 and I4 would become again energized, operating lthecounting mechanism and thus registering two or more counts for a singlebill.

.To prevent this -eventuality, I have provided a holding circuit throughthe relay 20, which is established whenthe contacts I8 and I9 close andthe larmature ofthe relay 28 lifts,-but which is not broken when thecontacts I8 and I9 separate. 'It will be observed from the rdiagram inFigure 4 that the circuit established through the relay 26 by theclosing of the contacts I8 and I9 includes only a single resistance 22so that the current may be regarded as a powerful current capable ofactuating the relay to draw its armature upwardly, considering theposition of parts in the'diagrammatic figure. f

When the armature of the relay 28 is in its uppermost position, thecontacts and 26 are closed, which cuts out the resistance 2,4 so thatcurrent continues to pass through Vtheg'relay by way of Ithe alternativepaththrough the solenoid I.3"and through tworesistances 22 and 23. Thiscurrent is not enough to cause the relay 28 to attract its armature, butit is enough to cause the relay to hold on to its armature.Consequently, when the contacts I8 and I9 are broken through thede-energization of the solenoids I3 and I4, the relay 20 is notcle-energized;

therefore, it is impossible for more than one count to be made by thecounter during the passage of a single bill.

Thus, during the passage of a bill between the rolls 6 and 8, thesolenoids of the counters are first energized, placing the counter armsII in a potential position. Energization of said solenoids causes animmediate energization of the relay 20, which in turn causesimmediatedeenergization of the counter solenoids, causing a count to beregistered upon the individual and master counters, but the relay 28remains energized during the entire passage of the bill, as a safeguardagainst the duplication of the count. Then when the billhas completelypassed through between the rolls E and 8 and said rolls have cometogether, opening the micro-switch, the cirhow fast to 'feed the billsto the rolls. They may be fed as close to onel another as possible,without fear of' a miscount or a duplicate count, it being understood,of course, that the bills must be fed so as to allow some space betweensuccessively fed bills.

The adjusting screw 21 in Figure 1 determines the clearance betwen therolls 6 and 8, necessary to close the contacts of the micro-switch. Ifthis clearance is set to the thickness of the one bill and two bills arefed in, overlapped, the micro-switch will, of course, close, but theupward thrust against the adjusting screw which `is carried by therocker arm 28 tilts the rocker varm about the pivot 29, operating brakemechanism 30, which will stop the motor,- not shown, bymeans of whichthe feed rolls 6 are driven.

While Ihave in the above description disclosed 'what I believe to be apreferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will be under-Vstood to those skilled in the art that the specific details as shown anddescribed are by way of example, and not to be construed as limiting thescope of the-invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a paper money counting machine of that type comprising a pluralityof bill-receiving bins,

a solenoid actuated counter individual to each g bin, a master countercommon to all the bins operating simultaneous with any individualcounter, a pair ofnormally contacting separable 'feed rolls adjacenteach bin, one roll of each pair being driven, switches individual tosaid bins, in

" series circuits with the corresponding individual counters and saidmaster counter, each switch being actuated to close a circuit throughthe corresponding individual counter and said master counter responsiveto the separation of the corresponding rolls by the thickness of a billintroduced between said rolls, wherebysaid counters are setin positionto register a count as soon as said counters are de-energized, thecombination with theindividual and master counter circuits of meansresponsive tothe movement of the master counter when energized, forde-energizing said counters immediately following their energization,while the switch which closes the counter-energizing circuit is stillclosed and the corresponding rolls are still separated by a passingbill, whereby the registration of the count both on the correspondingindividual counter, and the master counter will have been completed anappreciable time interval before the rolls come together again inreadiness for the counting of another bill. f

2. In a paper money Lcounting machine of that type comprising aplurality of bill-receiving bins, a solenoid actuated counter individualto each bin, a master counter common to all the bins operatingsimultaneous with any individual counter, a pair of normally contactingseparable feed rolls adjacent each bin, one roll of each pair beingdriven, switches individual to said bins, in series circuits with thecorresponding individual counters and said master counter, each switchbeing actuated to close a circuit through the corresponding individualcounter and said master counter responsive tothe separation of thecorresponding rolls by the thickness of a bill introduced between saidrolls, whereby said counters are set in position to register a count assoon as said counters are de-energized, the combination with theindividual and master counter circuits, of means responsive to themovement of the master counter when energized, for de-energizing saidcounters immediately following their energization, while the switchwhich closes the counterenergizing circuit is still closed and thecorresponding rolls are still separated by a passing bill, whereby theregistration of the count both on the corresponding individual counter,and the master counter will have been completed an appreciable timeinterval before the rolls come together again in readiness for thecounting of another bill, said means comprising a relay solenoid andline connection in series therewith and with a normally open switchresponsive to movement of said master counter, and closed when saidmaster counter is in potential counting position, an armature for saidrelay solenoid, and a switch in series in said master counter energizingcircuit operated by said armature when the relay solenoid is energizedfor de-energizing the kmaster counter circuit and the circuit of theindividual counter which is in series therewith.

3. In a paper money counting machine of that type comprising a pluralityof bill-receiving bins, a solenoid actuator counter individual to eachbin, a master counter common to all the bins operating simultaneous withany individual counter, a pair of normally contacting separable feedrolls adjacent each bin, one roll of each pair being driven, switchesindividual to said bins, in series circuits with the correspondingindividual counters and said master counter, each switch being actuatedto close a circuit through the corresponding individual counter and saidmaster counter responsive to the separation of the corresponding rollsby the thickness of a bill introduced between said rolls, whereby saidcounters are set in position to register a count as soon as saidcounters are de-energized, the combination with the individual andmaster counter circuits of means responsive to the movement of themaster counter when energized, for de-energizing said countersimmediately following their energization, while the switch which closesthe counterenergizing circuit is still closed and the correspondingrolls are still separated by a` passing bill, whereby the registrationof the count both on the corresponding individual counter, and themaster counter will have been completed an appreciable time intervalbefore the rolls come together again in readiness for the counting ofanother bill, said means comprising a relay solenoid, an armatureoperated by said solenoid and two circuits for said solenoid, thecurrent in one circuit having strength to draw the armature of thesolenoid, and the other normally having current of insuicient strengtheither to draw or hold said armature, but at times having strength tohold but not to draw said armature, the rst mentioned solenoid circuitincluding in series, line connections, the solenoid and a normally openswitch responsive to movement of said master counter, and closing whensaid master counter is in potential counting position, a switch inseries in said master counter energizing circuit opened by said armaturewhen said first mentioned relay solenoid circuit is energized, forde-energizing the master counter circuit and the individual counteractuating circuit in series therewith, said second mentioned solenoidcircuit including in series line connections, the counter actuatingswitch, the counter actuating solenoid, the relay solenoid, andaggregate resistance sufficient to reduce the current through saidcircuit to a strength insuicient either to energize the counteractuating solenoid or to draw or hold the relay solenoid armature, andhaving a normally open branch shunting a portion of said resistance, anda switch in said shunt branch closed by said armature when the armaturemoves to open the rst mentioned armature-controlled switch, forshort-circuiting the said portion of said resistance, increasing thecurrent through said circuit to armature holding strength but not tocounter solenoid actuating strength, whereby the counter actuatingcircuit is maintained broken during the remaining period of the passageof a bill between said feed rolls.

THOMAS E. HAYES.

